Happy Canada Day!

To my fellow Canadians

Silent Waters (July 1, 2012) – Trip Williams

For Jake McCord, Bandit Creek comes with an expiration date. But when Jake starts to
find the bodies of women, whom the town folks have never seen before, that expiration
date may become a life sentence.

“You’re fired!”

Donald Trump turned those two simple words into an iconic statement. If my boss fired me today, I’d be in big trouble. Why? Because I’m the boss!

As an Indie author, I’m the person in charge, making all the decisions. I bask in the glory when the decision is right; I admit to my mistake if a decision is wrong. Is being your own boss, running your own publishing business, a huge responsibility? You bet it is! Some days the whole idea is absolutely daunting, especially for a newbie.

But Indie publishing provides author perks, too.

I enjoy the freedom to self-publish any book to which I own exclusive publishing rights. As any author knows, this is huge! No waiting for weeks, or even months, to hear back about submissions. No rejections from editors or agents. No arguing with publishers about plot, theme, setting, characters. My work is my baby, and I am a very protective mother.

Scheduling publications is no longer an issue. Finish the book including beta reading, proofing, and line editing to the point of perfection. I admit usually one or two little things are missed, and they can be easily fixed. But your book should be as grammatically error-free as possible. Create an amazing cover design yourself or hire someone. Then just format your baby (or hire someone) and upload it for sale!  Done deal. No waiting for your turn on someone else’s timeline. Write another book, and repeat.

Sounds simple.

When I first considered self-publishing my own work, this newbie was about as technology challenged as they come. In truth, I spent endless hours learning the ins and outs of Indie publishing, but I’ve only scratched the surface. Don’t get me started on the issue of keeping up with the ever-changing industry. My fellow authors in CaRWA (local chapter of Romance Writers of America) helped me immensely, and I would encourage every author to join a writing group. Keep looking until you find a group that ‘fits’. I enrolled in an online formatting course, found a line editor that worked for steak dinners, hired a cover artist who charged a reasonable fee, and jumped into the deep end of the Indie publishing pool. I haven’t looked back since.

Don’t plan on making millions; it probably won’t happen. But with a concerted effort, who knows? The next step is concentrating on marketing and learning as much about promotion as possible, and then putting that knowledge into practice to generate more and more sales. I’m rapidly approaching this part of the process. And of course, writing more books! The secret to Indie publishing is getting lots of good books out there in order to attract readers and keep them coming back for more.

Hey, all successful authors started with that first book, that first sale, that first 5-star review.

Why not me?

Why not you?

A Night to Remember (Contemporary Romance) – June 15, 2012

Bandit Creek native, Savannah Vaughn, returns to her small, picturesque hometown to help care for her ailing grandparents, and hasn’t once regretted her decision to leave her glamorous, fast-paced life in the Big Apple behind. After being callously dumped by her ex, Savannah throws herself into her work to forget the pain, the heartache that seems to engulf her. Savannah’s been burned so many times by love, she’s given up all hope of ever finding Mr. Right, or having a family of her own.

Then, suave, charismatic businessman, Michael Mosely walks into the restaurant she manages, and turns her quiet, uneventful life upside down!

Her new boss is a lean, muscled hottie with dashing good looks, and every time he smiles at Savannah, her knees go weak. Michael is all wrong for her. He’s a player, a master of seduction, the kind of man who breaks hearts. Or is he? Can the reformed bachelor prove to Savannah his feelings are real? Or will her fears and insecurities keep them apart?

Read an excerpt.

by Brenda Sinclair

Cassidy Donahue’s dream of becoming partner in her father’s Chicago law firm is shattered by her father’s selfish betrayal. Devastated and disillusioned, Cassidy escapes to Anchorage, Alaska to start a new life on her own terms.

While the corporate lawyer works as a cocktail waitress in a western-themed bar, she befriends an inquisitive and handsome bartender.  Although attracted to Clayton Morrison, Cassidy fears he’ll reveal her whereabouts to her father if he discovers her true identity.

A past relationship left Clayton disillusioned and distrustful of women. But Clayton and Cassidy’s mutual attraction to each other results in a night of passion together. Cassidy’s relentless efforts to avoid detection only create more questions for Clayton who’s convinced she’s lying about something.

But Clayton is hiding a tightly-guarded secret of his own. Mr. Donahue confronts his daughter in the bar and insists she return home.  And then he discovers Clayton’s true identity.

When Clayton and Cassidy learn that nothing about their relationship is what it seems, will the couple everyone believes to be a perfect match be willing to overcome their secrets?  Or will distasteful accusations and hurt feelings threaten to ruin any chance for a future together.

EXCERPT HERE

Buy on Amazon http://amzn.to/M9jeio

Buy on Smashwords 

Leaving Bandit Creek was the best thing Stacy Jones ever did. Returning is the last thing she ever wanted to do.

Unfortunately it’s her only option. If she wants some questions answered, she needs to go back and confront her mother. If she doesn’t get the answers she needs, her whole future is at stake.

Eight years ago she ran away when the guy she loved betrayed her in the worst possible way. She’s healed from those wounds but can she ever forgive?

Warning – This story contains light BDSM elements

‘Tis the Season                         

 When you hear ‘tis the season, you usually conjure up images of packages wrapped in festive paper hidden beneath an evergreen tree covered with sparking baubles and lit with twinkling lights. Not today.

‘Tis the Season of GRADUATION. A graduate is any student who has completed a set course of studies and received a diploma or degree. Whether the student has completed kindergarten, or middle school, high school or received a bachelor degree from university, his or her parents couldn’t be prouder.

My youngest son recently graduated from The Art Institute of Vancouver, Culinary Arts Restaurant Ownership. My husband and I attended the ceremony, and we couldn’t have been prouder of his accomplishment. Within the pages of the graduation ceremony program were these words by William Arthur Ward, “If you can imagine it, you can achieve it; if you can dream it, you can become it.” These students had done that.

There will be thousands of parents proudly watching, probably a little teary eyed, while their sons and daughters graduate from high school and university in the next few weeks. Many of those parents will be wondering where the time went. Weren’t those kids just babies in diapers a few years ago? Congratulations to all the students graduating this spring. Hard work does pay off. And now your whole life is ahead of you!  Enjoy the journey.

For those parents and grandparents of babies still crawling or gingerly walking around the furniture not quite brave enough to take that first step, some day you’ll be watching them walk across the stage in cap and gown receiving a diploma, too. In the meantime, READ TO THEM. Encourage every child or grandchild to become an avid reader while he or she works their way through elementary, middle and high school. And those children, too, will imagine a dream, and through hard work and encouragement, they will achieve it!

Congratulations to all Students in every Graduating Class of 2012!

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